Safety manipulating device.



W. UOTTRBLL. I SAFETY MANIPUL ATING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13,1911.

1 &6,3? Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. GOTTRELL.

SAFETY MANIPULATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1911.

1,4=6,3?8 Patented. Dec. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ITED s'rA'rEs PATENT ormon.

WILLIAM COTTRELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIR: TO BENJAMIN ELECTRICMANU FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORBORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SAFETY MANIPULATING DEVICE.

Application filed May 13, 1911. Serial No. 626,979.

motion, or otherwise manipulated, with safety to the operator.

In the use of machinerypunch presses, for example-it has been found inthe past that accidents would frequently occur owing to the operatorfailing to remove his hand or hands from beneath the punch before thedescent of the latter; and various safety devices have been proposed forpreventing accidents of this character. For instance, in punch presses,it has been proposed to provide a releasable latch, which cooperateswith a hand lever for starting the punch press and prevents the handlever from being operated until the latch has been released, theconstruction being such that the other hand of the operator must beemployed in order to release the latch. Both hands of the operator beingthus employed, it is impossible for either of them to be in a dangerousposition when the punch descends.

It is the principal object of niy invention to produce a safetymanipulating device for machinery which will be still safer than thoseheretofore proposed; and it is a further object to improve upon safetymanipulating devices, by rendering them simpler and more certain intheir operation.

An embodiment of my invention, as applied to a punch press, is shown byway of example, in the accompanying drawing, and described in thefollowing specification. I wish it to be understood, however, thattheembodiment shown and described,

is only one of many forms which'my invention may take, and that changesmay be made in the embodiment shown, within the scope of my invention asdefined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation 'of a die press havingone embodiment of my invention attached thereto for starting thepress;'Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3is a side elevation of the die press illustrated in 1; and Fig. 4 is asectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3. I

Referring now to the structure shown in the drawings, the machine 1illustrated therein is a stamping press of the kind which is adapted torun open, if desired, after having once been tripped. This press has theusual frame-work carrying the table 2, over which operates the usualpunch carrying member 3, this member being reciprocated by an eccentricor crank on the driving shaft 4 of the press. The shaft 4 is driven froma pulley wheel 5 which is loosely mounted on the shaft andv adapted torun free thereon except during the intervals when it is connected to theshaft by the clutching mechanism. The clutching mechanism for connectingthe pulley to the shaft may be of any construction at present used inpresses of this character, and in the present instance consists of arotatable key 6 (Fig. 2) mounted in a suitable slot in the shaft 4 andadapted when rotated to engage in slots or openings 7 formed in the hubof the pulley 5. The key is given a half revolution by acoiled spring 8abutting at one end against a stop 9 carried on a collar on the shaftand at the other end against the lower end of an arm 10 integrallyformed with the key. When the pulley is running free the arm 10 is heldagainst movement under the influence of the spring 8 by a tripping stop11 pivoted at 12 to the frame of the machine and held in the path of thearm 10 by a coiled spring 13 This tripping stop is moved out of the pathof the arm 10 to permit the same to trip the clutch, by

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

the movement of a rod'14 connected to the sto at 15. ,The, mechanismthus far described is the ordinary form of tripping mechanism at presentused on various types of die presses.

Heretofore the rod 14 has usually been operated by means of a foot leveimounted on the machine, the result being that frequently the. operatordepresses the lever by his foot during the time that he is inserting 'orremoving the material to be operated on in the press. Frequently hishands or fingers are not removed from the path of the descending punchquickly enough and the punch catches them, either mutilating or cuttingthe fingers off. In order to prevent such accidents, I provide a safetydevice for manipulating the tripping mechanism which is so constructedthat both hands of the operator must be used, thereby keeping them outof the path of the punch when it is moving. -The rod 14 is connected atits lower end with a catch pin 16 mounted on a lever 17 pivoted at 1 8to the side frame. This pin 16 is held in its normal or raised positionby a rod 19 passing through a coiled spring 20 and having on, its end asto or collar 21 bearing on the upper end of t e spring, the lower endof the spring being adapted to bear on a lug or abutment 22 extendingfrom the side frame of the machine. For pulling the catch 16 downwardly.and thereby moving with it the rod 14 I rovide a trigger 23 havin ashoulder 24 adapted to engage over the nger 16. This trigger is pivotedto an operating lever 25, which, in turn, is pivotally mounted at 26 onthe side frame of the press and is provided with a handle to be pressedby the operator. The trigger is pulled into position to engage the catch16 by a coiled spring 27 one end of which is attached to the lever 25and the other end of which ,is

- attached to the trigger. The lower end of member 29 extending from thearm 30.

The arm 30 is. mounted upon a transversely extending rod or shaft 31which extends -through the lower portion of the frame of the machine andhas on its opposite end an operating lever 32 provided with a handle. Itwill be noted that this lever 32 is on the side of the machine oppositethe lever 25 and is so positioned that both levers cannot be 0 erated bythe same hand of the operator. uitable supports are provided for theshaft 31 in the form of braces 33 attached to the cross bracing rods 34of the machine. The cam or stop member 29 is held in normal position orin position to be engaged by the cam surface 28 by a coiled spring 35,one end of which is attached to the end of the arm 30 and the other endof .which is attached to the side frame of the machine. 1

Due to the fact that the stop or cam member 29 is in the path of the camsurface 28 of the trigger, if the lever 25 is depressed to trip thepress the cam surface 28 will ride on the stop or cam member 29 andthrow the shoulder 24 out of engaging position for the catch 16, so thatthe operation of the tripping mechanism must' be as follows: The lever32 is first depressed. This rotates the vshaft 31 and, moving the arm 30laterally, throws the stop 29 out of the path of the cam surface 28. Thespring 27 will then tend to hold the trigger 23 in a position to-engagethe catch 16, and when the lever 25 is depressed the shoulder 24 willengage over the catch 16, depressing the catch and thus throwing thetripping stop 11 out of the path of the arm 10, so that the i press willbe tripped and caused to operate. The shoulder 24 is so inclined that itwill readily slip ofi' the catch 16 and when the catch reaches thelowermost limit of its movement the stopping of the movement of thiscatch will cause the trigger 23 to disengage the finger, therebypermitting it to fiyback so that the sto 11 will be in the path of thearm 10 to disengage the pulley from the shaft when one revolution of theshaft is made. In order that the downward movement of the lever 25 willnot tend! to throw the arm 24 when this lever alone is moved, the coiledspring 35 is in practice made stronger than the spring 27. Attention iscalled to the fact that the levers 25 and 32 are disposed on oppositesides of the machine and are therefore so positioned that scribed, thelever 25normally may be freely moved without affecting the clutch trip.It is only when an operative connection has been established'between theactuating member and the clutch trip, that movement of such actuatingmember operates the clutch trip. The effect of this is that, should themeans for establishing such connection become damaged, the press couldnot' be worked until the damage was repaired. This is aconsiderable'adv-antage over older forms of safety manipulating devices,such, forinstance, as those in which a latch is placed in the path ofthe operating lever, which latch must be removed with one hand beforethe-lever can be'operated with the other hand. In these older forms ofsafety manipulating devices, if the latch-sometimes merely a lightmagnet armatureshould become broken or out of position, the press couldstill be operated, with rather continue to operate the machine withoutthe safety device. My invention renders this impossible, makingnecessary, as it does, the

repair of any damage which may have occurred to the safety evice, beforethe machine can be operated again.

Another important feature of my invention consists in the fact that theclutch trip cannot be held in its tripping position with one hand, afterhaving once been moved into such tripping position by the use of bothhands. In safety manipulating devices, as heretofore proposed, in whichthe latch was moved out of the path of the clutch trip actuating member,it was possible for the operator to release said latch with," say, hisleft hand, operate the clutch trip actuating member with his right hand,and then continue feeding the material to the machine while holding theclutch trip actuating member down with the right hand. In other words,two hands were necessary to start the machine, but one hand was onlynecessary in order to hold the clutch in operative position; and wacareless operator might, therefore, endanger his safety, by

feeding the material to the continuously running machine with his lefthand, while holding the clutch in operative position with his righthand. My invention renders this manner of operating the machineimpossible; since, if the lever 32 is released, the spring 35 will pullthe abutment 29 against the latch 23, thus releasing the connect-ionbetween the hand lever 25 and the trip mechanism and causing the clutchto be thrown out.

Besides the advantages noted above, the safety manipulating devicedescribed has the further advantage that it may be connected with anymachine withoutmodifying or changing the same to any material extent.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, I wishit understood that the invention may be embodied in various otherconstructlons, and that changes may be made in the particularconstruction shown, without exceeding thescopeof the invention, what Iclaim being:

1. safety manipulating device for machinery comprising a movable part,adapted, when moved, to perform the desired operation with respect tothe machinery, a movable member adapted to actuate said movable partwhen operatively connected therewith, but normally disconnectedtherefrom and movable independently thereof, and a hand-operated devicefor establishing an operative connection between said actuating memberand said movable part to enable and a hand-operated device for normallysaid member to actuate said movable part,

a portion of said device being placed apart from said actuating member,for the purposes set forth.

2. A safety manipulating device for machinery comprising a movable part,adapted, when moved, to perform the desired operation with respect tothe machinery, a movable member adapted to actuate said movable partwhen operatively connected therewith, but normally disconnectedtherefrom and movable independently thereof, a handoperated device forestablishing an operative connection between said actuating member andsaid movable part, to enable said member to actuate said movable part,said device being placed apart from sa1d actuating member, and means'foreffecting the disconnection of said actuating member from said movablepart, as soon as said device is released, for the purposes set forth.

3. A safety manipulating device for machinery comprising a movable part,adapted, when moved, to perform the desired operation with respect tothe machinery, a rockable lever, a latch cooperating with said rockablelever and adapted to connect operatively said lever with said movablepart, said latch being normally out ,of connecting position, and ahand-operated device adapted, when operated, to cause said latch toportion of said device being placed apart from said lever, for thepurposes set forth.

4. A safety manipulating device for ma chinery comprisingamovable part,adapted, when moved, to perform the desired operation with respect tothe machinery, a rockable lever, a latch coiiperating with said rockablelever and adapted-to connect operatively said lever with said movablepart,

preventing said latch from making operative connection between saidlever and said movable part, but adapted, when operated to permit saidlatch to make such operative connection, a portion of said device beingplaced apart from said lever, for the purposes set forth.

5 A safety manipulating device for machinery comprisingamovable part,adapted, when moved, to perform the desired operation with respect tothe machinery, a rockable lever, a latch coeperating with said rockablelever and adapted to connect opera'tively said lever with said movablepart, a hand-operated device for normally prevent-ing said latch frommaking operative connection between said lever and said movable part,but adapted, when operated, to permit said latch to make such operativeconnection, a portion of said device being laced apart from said lever,and means causing said latch to release said lever from said movablepart upon said device being ation With respect to the machinery, arockable lever for actuating said movable part, a latch pivoted uponsaid lever and adapted to connect operatively said lever with saidmovable part, means tending to throw s aid latch into connectingposition, and a handoperated device for normally holding said latch outof connecting position, but adapted, when operated, to permit said latchto move into connecting position, said device having a portion placedapart from said lever, for the purposes set forth.

7. A safety manipulatin device for machinery comprisingamovab e part,adapted, when moved, to perform the desired operation with respect tothe machinery, a rockable lever for actuating said movable part,

a latch pivoted upon said lever and adapted to connect operatively saidlever with said movable part, means tending to throit said latch intoconnecting position, a hand-operated device for normally holding saidlatch out of connecting position, but adapted, when operated, to permitsaid latch to move into connecting position, said device having aportion placed apart from said lever, and means for restoring saiddevice, when released, to its position in which it holds said latch outof connecting position, for the purposes set forth.

. 8. The combination with a tripping mechanism for intermittentlyoperated ma- 7 chinery, of an operating member normally disconnectedfrom said tripping mechanism but adapted to actuate said trippingmechanism when operatively connected therewith, normally inoperativemeans for operatively connecting said member with said mecha nism, asecond member coooperating with said connecting means adapted, whenoperated, to render said connecting means operative, said member's beingplaced apart, for

the purposes set forth.

9. The combination wlth a tripping mechanism for. intermittentlyoperated machinery, of a trigger normally disconnected from said'trippingmechanism but adapted to actuate the same when operativelyconnected therewith, a member for operating said trigger, to cause saidtripping mechanlsm to be ac tu ated when said trigger is operativelyconnected therewith, and a second member, connected' with said trigger,and adapted, when operated, to cause said trigger to make operativeconnection with said tripping mechanism, said members being placedapart, for

' the purposes set forth.

10. The combination with a tripping mechanism for intermittentlyoperated machmery,

with said tripping mechanism, said members i being placed apart, for thepurposes set forth. p r

11. The combination'with a tripping mechanism for intermittentlyoperated machinery, of a depressible lever, a trigger carried by saidlever and movable into and out of oper .ative relation with saidtripping mechanism,

means for normally holding said trigger out of operative relation withsaid trippmg mechanism, and a second depressible lever for operatingsaid meansto permit said, trigger to move into operative relation withsaid tripping. mechanism, whereby movement of said first-named leverwill result in the actuating of said tripping mechanism, said leversbeing placed apart, for the purposes set forth.

12. The combination with'a ti ipping 'mech-,

anism for intermittently operated machinery, Y

a catch connected therewith, a trigger for engaging said catch, a leveron which said trigger 1s pivotally mounted, a cam surface on saidtrigger, a cam member engaging said surface and adapted twmove saidtrig-- ger out of engaging position when said lever is depressed, asecond leverconneoted with said cam member, for moving cam member out'of engagement-with said cam surface, to permit said trigger to' engagesaid catch when the first lever is depressed, said levers being placedposes set forth.

apart, for the pur- 13. A safety manipulating device formlachinerycomprising a movable art, adapted,

when moved, to perform the esired operation with respect to themachinery, a pair of members placed apart and adapted to be operated bythe attendant, said members bemg normally separately movable withoutaifect- 7 ing said movable part, and means controlled by one of saidmembers for compelling movement of said-movab le part when the 'othermember 18 operated.

14. Asafety device for tripping the clutch mechanism of punclf'presses,comprisinga movable part, adapted, when moved, to trip the clutch of thep ess, a pair of hand levers levers bein normally separatelymovablewithout a ecting said movable part, and" placed one on eac sideof the press, said oeasvs means controlled by one of said hand leversfor compelling movement of said movable part when the other hand leveris operated. 15. A safety tripping mechanism for punch presses,comprising a movable part, adapted, When moved, to trip the clutch ofthe press, a hand lever located at one side of the press for actuatingsaid movable part, said hand lever being normally movable independentlyof said movable part, and a second hand lever located at the oppositeside of the press for establishing an operative connection between saidfirst-named hand lever and said movable part, to enable said first-namedhand lever to actuate said movable part, for the purposes set forth.

In Witness whereofi l have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

p WILLIAM COTTRELL.

Witnesses P. D. PHILLLPs, E. O. DEITRIOK.

